Direct flights to Cancún may say more about the US than Mexico
The turquoise blue water along a sun-drenched
Mexican
beach is a more appealing prospect than a hostile
US
border agent. If the comparison seems a bit of a stretch, just ask the Canadians; they've been ditching stateside vacations in their droves recently, in favour of a trip farther south.
Now that
Aer Lingus
has confirmed it will fly directly to Cancún next year, the unprecedented route may prove a timely litmus test for the appetite of Irish tourists and their relative reluctance to visit the US, at least these days.
The carrier will service direct flights to the eastern coastal resort, long popular with Irish people, three times a week from January. Famous for its tropical beaches, party vibe, food and sights, the destination has no need to sell itself. But how might it compete with other North American destinations?
If Irish tourists follow the lead of the Canadians, the Cancún route may prove to be fortuitous timing for Aer Lingus.
READ MORE
Earlier this month it emerged that Canadians, angry at the policies of president
Donald Trump
, were conducting something of a US travel boycott. The number of their residents visiting Mexico climbed 15.6 per cent in March compared with the same month in 2024.
The Trump administration's threats of annexation and trade levies triggered a patriotic reaction, strengthened in turn by reports of harsh treatment towards tourists entering the US.
Ireland has had its own similar experiences. Visitor numbers from the Republic to the US fell 27 per cent in March when compared with the same month in 2024, according to data from the US International Trade Administration (ITA). It was a similar pattern across Europe.
There has been much talk of late about US customs and border protection officers' ability to trawl through passenger phones to see what they might be up to on social media, a disturbing new reality of travel that is likely to put some people off.
And given Trump's most recent
tariff
salvo against the
European Union
– promising 50 per cent on all imports by June, and who knows what per cent by the time this column reaches print – it is anyone's guess what EU-US relations might look like when Aer Lingus's first Mexico flight touches down south of the border.
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Irish Times
6 hours ago
- Irish Times
Stereophonics at St Anne's Park: Ticket information, what will they play, how to get there and more
Stereophonics are in the middle of their biggest tour yet as they hit St Anne's Park in Dublin on Friday, June 6th. Singer Kelly Jones said: 'Being on the road again with my best friends, playing all the hits of this band's catalogue, for people in huge outdoor gatherings through the summer of 2025 makes me so excited, we should make a new album ... oh wait ... we already did that! See ya there for more good times ... tune ... !! tune!!! tune!!' When and where is it? Stereophonics will play St Anne's Park in Clontarf , Dublin on Friday, June 6th. What time should I arrive and what time does the gig start? Gates open at 5pm. Concertgoers are advised to arrive half an hour before the show starts. There is no queuing allowed before gates opening, meaning you will be turned away if you arrive too early. READ MORE St Anne's Park Who is playing? Stereophonics are headlining with support from James Bay and Davey MacManus. What will they play? Fans can expect to hear hits from the band's expansive catalogue including Dakota, Have A Nice Day, Maybe Tomorrow, C'est La Vie, A Thousand Trees, along with songs from a new studio album landing in 2025. Here is the set list from the band's recent concert at Dauwpop 2025 in the Netherlands on May 31st. Vegas Two Times I Wanna Get Lost With You Have a Nice Day There's Always Gonna Be Something Superman Mr Writer Local Boy in the Photograph Just Looking All in One Night Maybe Tomorrow Make It on Your Own Mr and Mrs Smith Fly Like an Eagle C'est la vie Dakota How do I get to and from the gig? People are advised to allow at least an extra two hours travel time to and from the venue. Traffic and parking delays are expected. Travel by bus: Marathon Coaches are among those offering direct, private services, with a return bus operating from Northwall Quay Bus Stop 7623 in Dublin city centre. JJ Kavanagh Event Coaches also pick up from locations in Limerick, Nenagh, Roscrea, Portlaoise, Kildare, Clonmel, Callan, Limerick, Kilkenny, Waterford and Carlow. Dublin Bus run services near to St Anne's Park. Routes from Abbey St Lower include 6, H1, H2, H3 or 130. Visit for more information. Travel by train: The Dart will run services to and from the concert. You are advised to get off at Harmonstown Dart station. From the station it is a 14-minute walk to the park. Visit for more information. Travel by car: Attendees are advised to use public transport, as there is no public parking at the event. The car parks at St Anne's Park are not open during events, and towing and clamping is in operation for anyone who parks illegally. The final hurdle: When you reach the site, there are two entrances. You may enter through whichever of these is most convenient for you, and organisers advise that both routes require about a 1.3km walk from the park entrance to ticket scan/entry. • Green entrance: Sybil Hill on to main avenue. • Blue entrance: All Saints Road, via Tennis court entry. Are there any tickets left? Yes, there are still tickets available. Tickets start from €67.50 and can be bought on Ticketmaster . Verified resale tickets are also available. Anyone attending should download tickets to their phone in advance, in case there are issues around internet connection when entering the park. Screenshots will not work on the day as barcodes are live and updating regularly. For concertgoers who need to collect their tickets there is a box office on the main avenue where the green and blue routes meet. What is security like? Under-16s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to enter St Anne's Park. Strict security checks will be in operation, and you are advised not to bring a large bag or backpack as you may experience delays or even be refused entry. Prohibited items include glass or cans, umbrellas, alcohol, garden furniture, camping or collapsible chairs, e-scooters and e-bikes, flares, professional cameras and audio recording equipment. A full list can be found here . There are no readmissions to the concert, so if you leave you cannot get back in. What does the weather look like? Met Éireann has forecast a cloudy and wet day with outbreaks of rain across the country. Highest temperatures of 11 to 15 degrees with light to moderate winds. Given St Anne's Park is a standing venue on a grass surface, you should bring boots or runners as well as layering up. It may help to have a raincoat or poncho alongside your sun cream.
Irish Times
10 hours ago
- Irish Times
Irish people are talented at many things. But we have our shortcomings too
Ancestrally speaking, and just between us, there are things Irish people are and are not good at. Digesting dairy? We're very talented at it. Our lactose intolerance rate is under 5 per cent, which is way under the 65 per cent global average. That makes us almost superhumanly good at digesting butter, as well as exporting it. We can enjoy it without a roiling gut and an afternoon of debilitating cramps. Our ancestors equipped us to digest the foods around us, which is apparently largely dairy, and whatever the British weren't first having themselves. Knowing the secrets of everyone in the small town where we grew up? Nobody is better at that either. We are like a nation of grizzled but lovable private detectives. We all know Jimmy 'the wagon' (unfortunate and insensitive nickname – classically Irish) is off the wagon again when we see him sitting inside the window of the local Supermac's eating garlic cheese chips without a fork at half 11 in the morning. We are all familiar with the widely circulated rumour that Mary from down the road killed a man in a disagreement over scratch cards in 1984. Crucially, since they never found a body, she's still the school lollipop lady (we are all innocent until proven guilty). There are things Irish people are good at. Emigrating and then remaining very Irish in almost hermetically sealed cabals of their own despite being in Canada, or Australia , the Philippines, or wherever else. Alcohol consumption – unfortunately, we earned that reputation fair and square, and my numerous family members with drinking problems will readily attest to it as, I'm sure, will yours. READ MORE We have many gifts and talents. A penchant for the creative – art, literature and music. A sort of hardiness that comes of being largely cold and wet for hundreds of consecutive generations. (We might be genetically coded for immunity to trench foot.) A fitting and solemn respect for a dinner that is mostly carbohydrates as long as it has gravy on it. But we have shortcomings too. Many of these are not our fault, and I would argue strongly that one example is our poor ability to adapt to other climates. We have pollen in Ireland, of course, and the summer season is an absolute pain in the face (quite literally) for anyone with hay fever in a country richly carpeted in grass Living in Australia, I've seen more than one man red as a beet in a Mayo jersey, his boiled forehead audibly sizzling under the Australian sun as he declares it's 'actually unbelievable to feel the heat' on his face. 'My friend,' I think, 'the heat you are feeling is radiation scrambling your DNA. Get some factor 50 on or you'll be scraping your forehead skin up off the floor.' [ Hay fever and asthma sufferers face more severe symptoms due to agricultural fertilisers - study Opens in new window ] Those of Celtic heritage developed their skin tone, as I did, vaguely in the vicinity of Limerick, where sunlight is a thing we mostly read about in books and consider a rare and special treat, like having pancakes for dinner. It's all well and good for us to be going to California or Sydney or the UAE or wherever, but we would be foolish indeed to think that we don't need to take precautions to protect ourselves against a climate we are ill-equipped to survive in. We need sunscreen, ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) clothing and a decent hat or we will, quite simply, perish. Pollen is no different. We have pollen in Ireland, of course, and the summer season is an absolute pain in the face (quite literally) for anyone with hay fever in a country richly carpeted in grass. We would go to visit my great aunt who lived on Bere Island every summer when I was a child. Each year, just as I was taking in the verdant majesty of my favourite part of the country, my eyes would promptly swell shut. Because it was the 1990s, nobody thought to actually do anything much to assist a temporarily blinded seven-year-old with restricted airways. In fairness, my great aunt did say she'd pray for me, which was good of her. Unfortunately, in the depths of my youth and physical discomfort, this promise served only to convince me that I was dying. So look, I thought I 'knew' pollen. She has been my old nemesis, reeling drunkenly forth each year as spring slurs blowsily into being, and staying long past her welcome once September arrives, still swaying alone on the dance floor as people are stacking chairs in the background. 'The season is over, you relentless slattern,' I would think. 'Go to bed'. And, eventually, she would. My airways would clear and my eyeballs decrust, and there would be room to promptly catch a cold that you couldn't shake till April, like every other respectable Irish person. Still, somewhere out on the vast, mountainous horizon, there are plants desperately trying to have sexual intercourse with one another Then, I moved to Canberra, the hay fever capital of Australia, which does have a primary pollen season during the summer but also enjoys a rolling repertoire of other, less extreme pollen seasons through most of the year. You can actually see the pollen, rolling in mucky clouds, on a windy day. It furs window screens and sills, parked cars and public benches, giving everything it touches the look of something long neglected on Miss Havisham's diningroom table. It gathers in your hair and eyebrows, clinging to your clothes. You can see it running down the drain when you wash your face at night. It plagues people with asthma, who are advised to shower on arrival at home during the worst of the year, lest they keep repollinating themselves each time they move. [ The challenging art of pollen forecasting Opens in new window ] Now, it's autumn in Canberra, as the Irish climate warms up, and I somehow still have hay fever. The leaves are falling, limp and yellow, and my thermals are on and my feet are cold, and still, I am sneezing. Still, somewhere out on the vast, mountainous horizon, there are plants desperately trying to have sexual intercourse with one another. Possibly, there's some sort of lesson in all this, but I'm too congested to glean what it is. It does make me miss Limerick a bit, though, and its chaste plant-life that has the decency to die – or to play dead – once autumn shuffles in. Sign up to The Irish Times Abroad newsletter for Irish-connected people around the world. Here you'll find readers' stories of their lives overseas, plus news, business, sports, opinion, culture and lifestyle journalism relevant to Irish people around the world If you live overseas and would like to share your experience with Irish Times Abroad, you can use the form below, or email abroad@ with a little information about you and what you do. Thank you
Irish Times
10 hours ago
- Irish Times
Does owning a barge restaurant float your boat? La Peniche on Grand Canal in Dublin 4 guiding at €350,000
The Riasc, trading as La Peniche, is a familiar floating landmark at the fourth lock of the Grand Canal on Mespil Road in Dublin 4 . Moored on the south bank of the canal, the lipstick-red vessel commands a prime location, with footfall from office workers at the European headquarters of both LinkedIn and Irish-founded fintech Stripe at Iput's newly developed Wilton Park across the water. This corner of the city has been a cultural hub since poet Patrick Kavanagh and novelist and playwright Brendan Behan traded insults, in between sipping pints of stout and balls of malt. A bronze of Kavanagh sits on his favourite park bench here, where he drew inspiration for the poem entitled Lines Written on a Seat on the Grand Canal, Dublin. The Riasc barge is a familiar landmark on the Grand Canal. Photograph: Alan Betson The Dutch barge, whose mooring location is protected, was designed by Captain Sam Field Corbett, a businessman who owns 12 craft and who got his sea legs sailing the waterway with his father on a 60-footer on trips west to the Shannon as a child. READ MORE 'I had it built at a shipyard in the UK,' he explains. It was 1998. Dublin was beginning to boom. His sister Clodagh was coming home from San Francisco and wanted to open a cafe. He suggested she set up business on the barge. She was soon turning out about 130 meals a day from its compact galley, which Field Corbett estimates measures about 12sq m (130sq ft). The physical space the chef has to work in amounts to about 26sq ft, less than 2.5sq m. About a decade later he set up La Peniche, partnering with Eric Tydgadt of Belgian restaurant La Mer Zou, which at the time was located on St Stephen's Green. 'I build and design the boats and work closely with the operators. I don't run the businesses but have a shareholding in each,' says Field Corbett. The barge sets sail from Mespil Road up the canal to below Ranelagh bridge, offering diners a moving tableau of vistas as guests work their way through their courses. The Riasc sailing west on the Grand Canal The barge in one of the canal's locks The business operates successfully; Field Corbett says turnover was about €400,380 in 2024 and €360,000 in 2023. A cafe element is currently occupied and trading under a tenant who pays €26,000 per annum. The lease has expired, but the tenant has expressed willingness to renew under agreeable terms. Field Corbett studied at Cork Maritime College and trained aboard the MV Cill Airne, a 1960s vessel that he now owns; moored on the river Liffey at North Wall Quay, it operates as a boat bar and bistro. Another of his fleet is the canal-boat restaurant Cadhla , a 1922 Guinness brewery barge. He feels there is scope to develop the daytime business of the MV Riasc: 'It could become a co-working space or a coffee shop.' There is high footfall and a thriving lunchtime market in the immediate area. 'People are looking for experiences, for something different,' says selling agent Dave McCarthy of Drinks Advisor Ltd, which is seeking offers in excess of €350,000. 'The barge is very Instragrammable.' The vessel extends to about 148sq m (1,600sq ft). The saloon-like diningroom on its lower deck can accommodate up to 40 people. Its furniture comprises built-in seating with drop-leaf tables and affixed lamps. The tables can be moved to accommodate different-sized parties and then resecured in place. About the same number of diners can be seated under a canvas awning on the upper deck. La Peniche: The lower deck can accommodate about 40 diners. Photograph: Alan Betson The boat operates under all necessary safety, food hygiene and waterways regulations and is moored via a long-standing arrangement which will transfer to the new owner, subject to approval. After 26 years in business, Field Corbett is weighing anchor and setting sail in a new direction. Ever an adventurous spirit, he is expanding his business, in which escape rooms are installed on vessels of varying sizes in Dublin's docklands and on the quays in Galway, where he bought a dock in 2009. His Sea Stay Galway enterprise, meanwhile, rents out boats as tourist accommodation.
